Mechanism for starting a weaving machine

ABSTRACT

A rapid starting mechanism for looms of the type where the shuttle is launched through the shed at a speed proportional to the speed of the loom, includes a speed regulator drive wheel which is coupled to the main shaft of the loom when the loom main shaft is in operation and which is instantly uncoupled from the shaft when the loom main shaft is stopped. A planetary gear assembly connects the drive wheel to the main shaft of the loom and can be mounted concentrically of the main shaft of the loom or concentrically of the drive member of an electric motor connected to the coupling mechanism by belts and pulleys.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,403,658 1/1922 Zweigbergk.. 74/750 2,858,855 11/1958 Picanol...... 139/1 3,242,765 3/1966 74/572 Primary Examiner-Henry S. .laudon Attorneys-Emory L. Groff and Emory L. Groff, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A rapid starting mechanism for looms of the type where the shuttle is launched through the shed at a speed proportional to the speed of the loom, includes a speed regulator drive wheel which is coupled to the main shaft of the loom when the loom main shaft is in operation and which is instantly uncoupled from the shaft when the loom main shaft is stopped. A planetary gear assembly connects the drive wheel to the main shaft of the loom and can be mounted concentrically of the main shaft of the loom or concentrically of the drive member of an electric motor connected to the coupling mechanism by belts and pulleys.

9m 31 5 d 3 0 D Albert E. Moessinger Epalinges, Vaud, Switzerland Appl. No. 793,746

Jan. 24, 1969 Patented Jan. 26, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 538,777, Mar. 30, 1966, now abandoned.

Inventor MACHINE 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl..

United States Patent [22] Filed [54] MECHANISM FOR STARTING A WEAVING [51] lnt.Cl.............

[50] FieldofSearch...........................................

PIATENTED JAN26I97I 3.657.841 sum 3 OF 4 MECHANISM FOR STARTING A WEAVING MACHINE This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 538,777, filed Mar. 30, 1966.

When starting certain machines, the normal operating speed of the machine should be reached as soon as possible for most efficient operation. This is often the case, particularly in weaving machines in which the shuttle is launched through the shed at a speed proportional to the speed of the loom. First of all the shuttle should be launched at a sufficient speed to be able to pass through the shed under its own power. Furthermore, the shuttle should reach the other side of the shed between clearly defined limits in the cycle of the loom. Any increase in these limits results in a loss of time, that is to say a drop in production. During the nonnal operation of the loom, the margin of these limits is necessitated by the possible variations in the braking of the shuttle. When starting up, this limit is increased by the variations in speed of the loom during the time when the shuttle is moving freely inthe shed, hence, the necessity to reduce these variations.

ln looms where the shuttle travels in a closed circuit without stopping, such as described, for example, in my US. Pat. No. 3,378,041, dated Apr. 16, 1968, it is important to reduce the limits beyond which the shuttle leaves the shed, in order to facilitate maintaining synchronism in the movement of the shuttle.

The object of the present invention is to provide a starting device for looms, whereby the shuttle is launched at a speed proportional to the speed of the loom, a speed regulator handwheel is coupled to the main shaft of the loom when the latter is in operation, and is released from said shaft at the moment it stops, characterized by the'fact that the operation of the motor is connected to at least a part of the handwheel by means of a planetary gear.

The main shaft of the loom can be connected to the planetary gear in such a way that the movement of the motor drives at least a part of the mass of the handwheel at a greater speed when the main shaft is stopped than when it is moving. This planetary gear can be mounted either coaxially of the main shaft of the loom or coaxially of the shaft of the motor.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a first embodiment of the invention in which the planetary gear is disposed coaxially of the main shaft of the loom.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a second embodiment of the invention wherein a pulley and planetary gear arrangement are mounted upon the drive member of an electric motor.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross section of the planetary gears shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the brake disc and belt shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5 through 8 show in detail the various elements connecting the control lever to the clutch and brake assembly shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the main shaft 1 of the loom has handwheels 2, 3 and 4 freely mounted thereon and a brake pulley 5, a coupling hub or clutch element 6 and a gear 7 are keyed to said shaft. A ball thrust bearing 8 transmits the coupling pressure by means of a lever 9 pivoting around a fixed point 10 of a rod ll equipped with a hook l2, cooperating with a hooked lever 13 articulated on crank lever 14 pivoting around a fixed point 15 and provided with a handle 16. Manipulation of lever 14 permits thev hooked lever 13 to engage the hook 12 and actuate rod 11 to which is attached a crank lever 17 rotating around a fixed point 18 and having, at its other end, a brake shoe 19 which acts on brake pulley 5 with a given force provided by spring 20 attached to one end of an arm of crank lever 17.

I-Iandwheels or drive members 3 and 4 acting as drive pulleys have trapezoidal shaped grooves on their perimeters which receive belts 21 connected with drive member or pulley 23 driven by motor 22, thus driving the two handwheels 3 and 4. Clutch shoes 24 are connected to the drive hub 6 keyed on mainshaft l by means of arms 6' resiliently mounted in such a way that the shoes 24 can move a short distance axially and transmit the coupling pressure provided by lever 9 to the two handwheels 3 and 4.

An axle 25 is secured in handwheel 3 and has a gear 26 rotatably mounted thereon. The gear 26 engages gear 7 keyed on the main shaft 1, and also engages an internal gear 27 integral with handwheel or drive wheel 2 and concentric to gear 7. Gear 26 thus acts as the satellite, of a planetary gear system 7, 26, 27 and will drive handwheel 2 as a function of the speed of the main shaft 1 to which gear 7 is keyed and handwheel 3 which carries gear 26. When the main shaft 1 turns at the same speed as handwheels 3 and 4, the coupling between them being closed, handwheel 2 will be driven at the same angular speed as the other two components of the planetary system. But if the main shaft 1 is released and is locked by brake shoe l9 acting on brake pulley 5, handwheel 2 will be driven at a greater speed.

On lever 14 there is also fixed a switch 28 closing a circuit when handle 16 is pushed to the left, a movement which is necessary in order that hook 13 will engage hook 12. The closing of the circuit by switch 28 activates relay 29 which closes switch 33 of motor 22. The relay 29 is kept activated by lead 30 and stop switch 31 which is normally closed. When it is desired to stop the machine, pressure on button 32 opens contact 31 which cuts off the supply of current to relay 29 and opens switch 33 of the motor and closes contact 34 which supplies relay 35. This causes member 36, which slides in guide 37, to move upwardly and unhook hook 13 from hook 12. Under the influence of spring 20, rod 11 releases the coupling between wheels 3 and 4 by means of lever 9, and blocks the main shaft 1 by means of brake 19.

Upon pushing the lever 14 to the left, the motor may be started and, since brake 19 is locked and the coupling open, handwheels 3 and 4 are driven at their normal speed while shaft 1 is fixed, which drives handwheel 2 at a higher speed.

Upon moving the lever 14 to the right, brake I9 is released, thereby freeing the main shaft 1, and the coupling is closed by pressing clutch shoes 24 between discs 3 and 4. The main shaft then builds up speed and the speed of the handwheel will diminish until clutch shoes 24 no longer slide between handwheels 3 and 4. The whole system of the main shaft 1, handwheel 2 and motor handwheels 3 and 4 will then have the same angular speed.

FIG. 2 shows a clutch arrangement cooperating with a pulley which is mounted on the shaft of an electric motor and includes the planetary gear, shown in detail in the lower portion of FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3. This arrangement permits an accumulation of energy necessary for quick starting of the machine according to the invention.

On the main shaft 50 there is keyed a sleeve 51 on which is fixed a brake disc 52 and a flexible clutch disc 53, on the perimeter of which brake shoes 54 are secured. A bushing 55 is fixed to the end of sleeve 51, and on the bushing the seat of spring 56 and a lightweight aluminum disc 57 are clamped. The entire system described up to this point, from members 51 through 57, is therefore solid with the main shaft 50. A drive member or disc 58 provided with a weight 59 is freely mounted on sleeve 51. A bushing 60, also freely rotatable on sleeve 51, transmits the axial force exerted by crank lever 61, ring 62 and ball bearing 63 on disc 58.

On bushing 55 a second drive disc 58 is rotatably mounted and is provided with an additional mass or weight 59. A drive wheel or disc 64 is rotatably mounted on the hub of disc 57 and has brake shoes 65 attached to its perimeter. Drive disc 64 is pressed axially against disc 57 by springs 66 resting on seat 56 and pushing disc 67. Brake disc 52 is covered with a brake lining 69 and surrounded by a belt 68 (FIG. 4) fixed at one end in a fixed part 70 and drawn at the other end by the brake spnng.

The coupling described above is activated by three belts engaged with the pulley of the electric motor 71. On the drive member or shaft 72 of electric motor 71 is keyed a gear 73 engaged with gear 74 of satellite 74, 75, gear 75 being engaged with gear 76 fixed on a hub 77 which turns freely on shaft 72.

On the hub 77 there is secured a pulley 78 driving the discs 58 by the two belts B and B. The axle 79 of satellite 74, 75 is fixed in frame 80 turning freely around shaft 72. on the one hand. on bushing 81'. on the other hand on hub 77. Housing 80 is kept closed by screws 82 and cross braces 83. and has mounted thereon a fixed pulley 84 driving the disc 64 by a belt B.

When the machine is stopped, drive shaft 50 is locked by brake disc 52. discs 58 are turning freely while disc 64 is braked on disc 57 by the pressure exerted by springs 66. These conditions imply in the pulley of motor 71 that the pulley 84 and the case 80 of the planetary system have zero speed. The motor drives pulley 78 by means of gears 73, 74, 75 and 76. The shaft 79 being fixed, pulley 78 will turn at a greater speed than the shaft of motor 71 and additional energy will be stored in discs 58 and weights 59. At the time of startup, brake 52 is released, the coupling is closed, and brake shoes 54 and 65 will then be engaged between discs 57 and 58 Discs 58 and their weight 59 will be slowed down while discs 53. 57 and 64 will be accelerated. The ratio of the weight or masses to be slowed down and accelerated, and the ratio of the speeds given by the gears 73 to 76 will be selected in such a way that when the friction shoes no longer slide, the normal speed of the machine will be reached.

If the mass and the normal speed of the machine are represented by Mm and Wm, the speed of discs 58 W at which the mass M of the discs 58 and 59 must turn will b given by the following inequality:

The inequality sign is due to the fact that during the short time of acceleration, the motor can provide a couple aiding the acceleration.

According to the above description of the startup procedure, it is possible to have rigidly connected discs 57 and 64. The construction shown in FIG. 2 also has an advantage when the machine is to be stopped abruptly. As a matter of fact, if disc 64 is to be stopped suddenly, the motor, continuing its movement by its own inertia, should accelerate discs 58, 59. It is then apparent that disc 64, being rigid with shaft 50 of the machine, would entrain asubstantial mass with it, which would considerably slow down the stopping of the machine. Connected to disc 57, that is to say to the machine by a friction force, disc 64 will have only a limited effect on the stopping time of the machine. In order to start the machine when the motor is stopped, the acceleration of discs 58, 59 will be limited by the friction connection created between discs 64 and 57. They will reach their maximum speed somewhat later than if the discs 64 and 57 were rigid with respect to one another, since this slowing down is the object of an operation preparatory to starting up, it will have no effect on the rapidity of the startup itself. i

For safety and uniformity in the starting and stopping of the machine, it is also important that the operation be done rapidly and always in a similar manner. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the coupling is closed by drawing handle 16 to the right. If the operator moves too slowly, all the advantage of the construction is canceled out. The control shown in FIG. 2, and in greater detail in FIGS. -8, eliminates the above mentioned drawback.

On lever 100 are fixed the connections with the brake at 101, of the coupling at 102 and a spring 103 at 104. When the machine is stopped the lever 100 rests on a fixed point 105. In addition, two toggle joints 106, 107' and 108, 109 are articulated on lever 100 at 110 and 111, respectively. Toggle joint 106, 107 is also articulated to a fixed point 112 while toggle joint 108, 109 is articulated at 113 on control lever 114, which in turn is articulated to fixed point 115. I

Consider first the various positions which lever 100 can assume. In FIG. 5 the machine is stopped, that is to say braked and uncoupled. Lever 100 pivots on its fixed point 105, compression spring 103 presses'articulation point 101 downward is less than or equal to and brakes the bar brake 68 and raises articulation point 102. which uncouples the machine. In FIG. 6, lever remains in the same position and by lowering the control lever 114 toggle joint 108, 109 is straightened and made rigid. On raising the control lever 114 again (FIG. 8) the rigid togglejoint I08, 109 again raisesthe articulation point of lever 100 which abuts against a fixed point 116.compresses spring 103 and releases the brake 68. The coupling remains uncoupled and lever 1'00 will pivot around fixed point 116' until toggle joint 106, 107 is straightened. A spring 117 urges the toggles against fixed stops 118 and 119, set in such a way that the toggles cannot rock under the influence of the forces of spring 103. In this position the machine is ready to start. If, by a means referred to below, toggle joint 108-. 109(FIG. 8) is rocked, lever 100 will pivot around articulation point of toggle 106, 107 and the force of spring 103will be transmitted to lever 61 by articulation point 102 which will very quickly engage the machine, and always at the same rhythm. Articulation point 101 of brake 68 will be lowered by a very small amount, insufficient in any case to brake disc 52. In this operating position the stopping of the machine will be obtained by rocking toggle joint 106, 107 and the force of the spring 103 will be transmitted to brake 68 by articulation 102, lever 100 turning around fixed point 105 To initiate starting and stopping, the following means are provided. Electromagnets 120 and 121 hold levers 122 and 123 in position, each pivoting around a fixed axis 124 and 125. Springs 126 and 127 act on levers 122 and 123 in the opposite direction to the attraction of the electromagnets. To stop the machine (FIG. 5) the current from electromagnet 120 is cut off and the hammer 122 of lever 122 has rocked the toggle joint106, 107. To start the machine after tensioning spring 103 (FIG. 8) the current from electromagnet 121 is'cut off and the hammer 123' of lever 123 rocks toggle joint 108, 109.

To reset electromagnets 120, 121 the control lever 114 is extended at 114' and is attached to'a rod 128 at point 129, the rod 128 being s'lidable in a fixed guide 130. When the control lever 114 is lowered (FIG. 6) studs 131 and 132 push levers 122 and 123 until they adhere to the electromagnets 120 and 121.

Rod 128 is extended on the left to the vicinity of the toggle joint 107, an extension of which, 107", projects toward the rod 128. When spring 103 has been loaded, toggle joint 106, 107, as it straightens, projects its extension 107' into the path of rod 128 and prevents the latter from returning to the rear, that is to say,'it holds control lever 114 in its raised position. This locking action prevents any unintentional movement while the machine is running. When the machine is stopped (FIG. 5) the locking is released.

The startup of the machine could also be accomplished by means of control lever 114. With this in mind there is provided a third stud 133 which will trip lever 123 at the end of the stroke ofcontrollever'114." I

The electromagnets 120 and 121 could be replaced by permanent magnets having a winding to eliminate the permanent magnetization when an'electric current is passingthrough'it.

Iclaim:

1. Motion transmitting means adapted to regulate the speed of rotation of a loom main shaft comprising a rapid startup device for said main shaft, including, an electric motor having a drive member, means connecting said drive member to said main shaft, a speed regulating drive wheel, means selectively connecting said drive wheelto said'main shaft to initiate rotation of said main shaft and disconnecting said drive wheel from said main shaft to stop rotation of said main shaft, said connecting means including a planetary gear assembly rotated by said drive member and driving said drive wheel, and clutch means fixed to and carried by said main shaft and actuated to connect said main shaftjsaid drive member and saiddrive wheel whereby, the speed of rotation of said drive wheel influences the initial speed of rotation of said main shaft.

2. A rapid startup device according to claim wherein the speed of said drive wheel is greater when the main shaft is stopped. i I

3. A rapid startup device according to claim 8, wherein the planetary gear assembly is mounted concentrically of said main shaft.

4. A rapid startup device according to claim 8, wherein the planetary gear assembly is mounted concentrically of said drive member of said motor.

5. A rapid startup device according to claim 4 wherein said planetary gear assembly includes a housing, said drive wheel connecting said main shaft to said housing, and said clutch means includes a friction disc connecting said drive wheel to said main shaft.

6. A rapid startup device according to claim 3, wherein said planetary gear assembly comprises a central gear keyed on said main shaft, an interior gear in said drive wheel, and a satellite gear driven by said electric motor, said satellite gear engaging said central gear and said interior gear.

7. A rapid startup device according to claim 1, including starter control means, said control means including a control lever, crank and lever means connecting said control lever with said clutch means, said crank and lever means including a preloaded compression spring and a release mechanism permitting the force of the spring to act on said clutch means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 557 ,841 Dated January 26, 1971 lnve fl ALBERT B. LDBSSINGBR It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 2, line 1, change "8" to --1--.

Claim 3, line 1, change "8" to --1--.

claim 4, line 1, change "8" to -1--.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of May 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIETCHER,J'R. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, Attesting Officer Commissioner of Paton FORM PO-IOSO (10-69) u 503', 

1. Motion transmitting means adapted to regulate the speed of rotation of a loom main shaft comprising a rapid startup device for said main shaft, including, an electric motor having a drive member, means connecting said drive member to said main shaft, a speed regulating drive wheel, means selectively connecting said drive wheel to said main shaft to initiate rotation of said main shaft and disconnecting said drive wheel from said main shaft to stop rotation of said main shaft, said connecting means including a planetary gear assembly rotated by said drive member and driving said drive wheel, and clutch means fixed to and carried by said main shaft and actuated to connect said main shaft, said drive member and said drive wheel whereby, the speed of rotation of said drive wheel influences the initial speed of rotation of said main shaft.
 2. A rapid startup device according to claim 8, wherein the speed of said drive wheel is greater when the main shaft is stopped.
 3. A rapid startup device according to claim 8, wherein the planetary gear assembly is mounted concentrically of said main shaft.
 4. A rapid startup device according to claim 8, wherein the planetary gear assembly is mounted concentrically of said drive member of said motor.
 5. A rapid startup device according to claim 4 wherein said planetary gear assembly includes a housing, said drive wheel connecting said main shaft to said housing, and said clutch means includes a friction disc connecting said drive wheel to said main shaft.
 6. A rapid startup device according to claim 3, wherein said planetary gear assembly comprises a central gear keyed on said main shaft, an interior gear in said drive wheel, and a satellite gear driven by said electric motor, said satellite gear engaging said central gear and said interior gear.
 7. A rapid startup device according to claim 1, including starter control means, said control means including a control lever, crank and lever means connecting said control lever with said clutch means, said crank and lever means including a preloaded compression spring and a release mechanism permitting the force of the spring to act on said clutch means. 